District 99 announces that 59 students have received recognition in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSP). The program recognizes high school seniors who have excelled in academics and have the potential to succeed in rigorous college studies.
DGS held a recognition breakfast for students and their families on October 4, 2024, to celebrate this honor.
Click Here to See Photos from the Breakfast!
At South High, students receiving the National Hispanic Recognition Award include:
- John Foley, South High
- Kevin Hernandez, South High
- Logan Kavanaugh, South High
- Anthony Lopez, South High
- Oscar Nataren, South High
- Diana Nava Acevedo, South High
- Isabel Okuku, South High
- Jack Sifuentes, South High
- Kimberly Torres, South High
- Julian Ugalde, South High
DGS students receiving the National African American Recognition Award include:
- Kamryn Gillespie, South High
- Isabel Okuku, South High
DGS students receiving the National Indigenous Recognition Award include:
- Kathryn Ponstein, South High
- Jack Sifuentes, South High
DGS students receiving the National First-Generation Recognition Award include:
- John Foley, South High
- Anthony Lopez, South High
- Oscar Nataren, South High
- Diana Nava Acevedo, South High
- Hunter Tancredi, South High
- Julian Ugalde, South High
- Al Zoerb, South High
DGS National Merit Semifinalists include:
- Zevian Davis, South High
- Alessio LoBello, South High
- Sakthi Rajeshkumar, South High
- Al Zoerb, South High
DGS National Merit Commended students include:
- Juliana Conyer, South High
- Troy Edie, South High
- Anna Maggos, South High
- William Neumann, South High
- Sophia Pauna, South High
- Sydney Stapleton, South High
"These students exemplify the pillars of excellence and consistently demonstrate their willingness to persevere and grow. We know they will continue to excel in life after high school,” said Arwen Lyp, principal of South High.
Students entered the National Merit Scholarship Program, a nationwide competition for recognition and awards conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation, by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) offered in October 2023 and January 2024. National Merit Semifinalist students will join approximately 16,000 seniors from across the country, representing the top one percent, and will compete for scholarships.
For more information about the National Merit Scholarship Program, please visit www.nationalmerit.org.